PSY semestre 1 module 1

What defines psychology as a scientific discipline?

Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

What are observable actions in psychology referred to as?

Behavior.

What are internal experiences that cannot be directly observed called?

Mental processes.

What are the four primary goals of psychology?

Describe, Explain, Predict, and Influence (or Control) behavior.

What is the first step of the scientific method in psychology?

Identify a research question.

Who established the first psychology laboratory in 1879, marking the beginning of modern psychology?

Wilhelm Wundt.

What is structuralism?

A psychological approach focused on analyzing the structure of conscious experience using introspection.

What does the functionalism perspective focus on?

The purpose of behavior and mental processes, influenced by evolutionary theory.

How does the biological perspective explain behavior?

It explains behavior as influenced by brain structures, the nervous system, hormones, and genetics.

What is reinforcement in behavioral psychology?

A consequence that increases behavior.

What distinguishes the cognitive perspective from the behavioral perspective?

The cognitive perspective focuses on mental processes like memory and decision-making, while the behavioral perspective focuses on learned behaviors through the environment.

What key aspect did the humanistic perspective emphasize?

Free will and the striving for personal growth and self-actualization.